Keyboard operated printing machine



May 1950 c. CHISHOLM 2,506,701

KEYBOARD OPERATED PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1946 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 430 3 Ill'lllllllllllllll III'II IN VEN TOR. (L l/TOA/ (flu/10m BY y 1950 c. CHISHOLM 2,506,701

KEYBOARD OPERATED PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1946 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 Era-.4

IN V EN TOR.

flrra may! l6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 20. 1946 c. CHISHOLM 2,506,701 KEYBOARD OPERATED PRINTING MACHINE l6 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 9, 1950 Filed July 20, 194s May 9, 1950 c. CHISHOLM KEYBOARD OPERATED PRINTING momma l6 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed July 20, 1946 May 9, 1950 Filed July 20. 1946 c. CHISHOLM KEYBOARD OPERATED PRINTING MACHINE l6 Sheets-Sheet 9 z: Q I H773 Ill I 240 I I 240 1 '1 i IN V EN TOR. (2 IF TM 01/51/01 H 64214. Vcmtfl May 1950 c. CHISHOLM 2,506,701

mom: OPERATED PRINTING MACHINE rued July 20, 1946 16 Sheets-Sheet 10 #rranuzn y 1950 c. CHISHOLM 2,506,701

KEYBOARD OPERATED PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1946 16 Sheets-Sheet 11 May 9, 1950 c. CHISHOLM KEYBOARD OPERATED PRINTING MACHINE l6 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed July 20, 1946 NE /////////////4 M M m M m M C N2 N d 7 RN F u r.

C- CHISHOLM KEYBOARD OPERATED PRINTING MACHINE -May 9, 1950 16 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed July 20, 1946 D m J M m J M J/ w;lwh 0 2 I 9 1 h & o Tn m an T Wm hm I y M I m rm m May 9, 1950 c. CHISHOLM KEYBOARD OPERATED PRINTING MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed July 20, 1946 mm W INVENTOR. 2 /F70A/ (ms/mm 44%, 'im J11? KEYBOARD OPERATED PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1946 16 Sheets-Sheet 16 INVHVTOR. 2 m'mv [ll/517001 TFORNEYI Patented May 9, 1950 KEYBOARD OPERATED PRINTING MACHINE Clifton Chisholm, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as-

signor of one-fourth to Marie F. Chisholm, Cleveland Heights, and one-half to Henry C.

Osborn, Cleveland, Ohio Application July 20, 1946, Serial No. 685,107

16 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved printing 01' typewriting machine of the keyboard type. More specifically the invention relates to an improved power operated, keyboard controlled, printing machine which will facilitate the production of a clear, distinct and justified copy, similar to letter press printing, and from which a master printing member, such as a planographic printing plate, may be reproduced as, for instance, by a photographic transfer process. These, therefore, are the general objects of this invention.

My prior patents Nos. 2,165,223, 2,165,224 and 2,165,225, issued July 11, 1939, disclose a keyboard machine of the general type with which the present invention is concerned. In general, such a machine includes a plurality of individual letter keys for causing a copy to be reproduced as in an ordinary typewriter. However, a plurality of spacing keys are also provided. These space keys are arranged to space the words a varying distance from each other as, for instance, by any selected number of units from four to eighten as desired. Further, the mechanism is arranged to utilize printing type of varying widths such as is ordinarily used in letter press printing.

In using a machine of the type with which this invention is concerned, the operator first types a line in the usual manner, using a standard space key or bar. Mechanism, which is dependent upon the difference between the length of the typed line and the length of a standard line, is provided to indicate to the operator which space key or keys should be used when retyping the line to produce a justified or standard length line. This information is typed by the operator at the end of the line and subsequent lines are typed using the same procedure. To produce the justified copy, these typed lines are removed from the machine and retyped, using the space bars or keys indicated at the ends of the respective lines. The lines so retyped will all be of standard length. The retyped copy is then removed from the machine and utilized in any well known manner to form a master printing member or plate. For example, a planographic printin plate may be produced from the retyped copy by a photographic reproduction process.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved keyboard controlled printing mechanism for effecting the reproduction of an exceedingly clear and. distinct copy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a keyboard controlled printing machine having type of difl'erent widths, with an improved work sheet feed mechanism, which mechanism will accurately advance the work sheet a distance corresponding to the width of individual type following the impression of such individual type on the work sheet.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved inking ribbon feed mechanism for a keyboard controlled printing machine, which feed mechanism will advance the ribbon varying amounts depending upon the width of individual impressions made on a worksheet, even though such impressions may vary in width from each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved keyboard controlled, power operated, printing machine in which the actuation of the keys is prevented when either the power is cut off, or when a predetermined length of line has been printed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a printing machine, utilizing type of varying widths, with an improved mechanism for advancing the work sheet distances commensurate with the width of the type impressed thereon.

A further object is to provide a printing machine having a work sheet carriage and an indicating device which are advanced following the impression of each individual character, with an advancing mechanism arranged to prevent the overthrow or rebound of the carriage or indicator during or following the feeding operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrically operated, keyboard controlled, printing machine in which the actuation of the keys will be prevented so long as the power is oil or after a predetermined length of line has been printed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention. The essential characteristics of the invention will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a. plan view of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the left hand side of the machine, the cover and certain other parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the internal construction; Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the right hand side of the machine; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the machine; Fig. 5 is a side elevation looking at the right hand side of Figs. 1 and 3; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section, the plane of the section being indicated by the lines -6 on Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 7 is a sectional detail of a shift key lock mechanism; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section as indicated by the lines 8-! on Figs. 1, 2 and 4; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section through the type wheels and associated mechanism. the plane of the section being indicated by the lines 3-8 on Figs- 1,v 3 and 4; Fig. 10 isa fragmentary perspective view and illustrates a portion of the paper carriage together with portions of its supporting and actuating mechanisms; Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical section, as'indicated by thev offset line ll-li on Fig. 1; Fig. 12 is a sectional detail, the plane of which is indicated by the line 12-42 on Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a sectional detail on an enlarged scale, illustrating a ratchet mechanism for controlling the progress of a paper carriage and justification chart, the plane of the section being substantially indicated by the offset line l3-l3 on Fig. 2; Fig. 14 is a sectional detail, similar to-Fig. 13

I work sheet W so that. the latter may be line spaced. A series of type wheels l4 are mounted on the frame ill, for rotation as a unit about a vertical axis. Each type wheel I4 carries an entire font of type. One wheel. for instance, may carry 6-point type, another 8-point type, another 10-point type, etc. The wheels are arranged to be selectively positioned, relative to the platen H, to enable use of the desired font of type. A keyboard [5 controls the rotation of the type wheels so as to bring the desired type of a se- 'lected font into printing position. The keyboard but illustrating certain of the parts in different 1 operating positions; Fig. 15 is a view similar to Figs. 13 and 14 illustrating another position of the parts, certain parts being omitted to more clearly illustrate a ratchet release mechanism; Fig. 16 is a sectional detail illustrating a space key lever mechanism, the parts of which are shown in the same position as in Fig. 5, the plane of the section being substantially indicated by the line lG-IB on Fig. 3; Fig. 17 is a sectional detail-similarto'Fig. 16 illustrating certain of theparts in different positions, the plane of the section being substantially indicated by the lines "-11 on Fig. 3; Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 16, certain parts having been broken away and others shown in different operating positions; Fig. 19 is a sectional detail of a ribbon spool mechanism, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 19-49 on Fig. 2; Fig. 201s a travel of the paper carriage to thereby control the printing pressure, the plane of the section being indicated by the lines 2323 on Fig. 5; Fig. 24 is an enlarged sectional detail through a portion of a mechanism for moving the paper carriage to cause an impression to be made, the plane of the section being indicated by the lines 24-24 on Fig. 2; Fig. 25 is a sectional detail, certain parts being broken away, of a mechanism for preventing the simultaneous depression of a plurality of keys and for preventing the depression of any key when the power is off, the plane of the section being indicated by the lines 2525 on Fig. 1; 'Figs.,26 and 27 are sectional details as indicated by the correspondingly numbered lines on Fig. 25; Fig. 28 is a sectional detail similar to Fig. 26 but illustrating a modified form of the invention; Fig. 29 is a diagrammatic illustration of a justification chart; Fig. 30 is an electrical diagram illustrating an electrical circuit for the machine. Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Fig. 1, it will be seen that my improved keyboard operated printing machine comprises a frame It which supports a paper carriage II. The paper carriage is progressed across the frame from right to left by a suitable feeding mechanism, and is arranged to carry a platen I2 and a printed'lln'e, and'the total distance the work.

' sheet is advanced, controls the relative positions of a justifying scale It carried by a drum l1 and an indicator or pointer [8. The drum l1 and indioator I8 are mounted at the right hand side of ing rollers 20 and 21 between which a sheet to be copied is placed." It also may include a suitable copy support or guide 22. The arrangement is such that the operator may rotate the roll 20 by means of knobs 29 to bring the desired line of the copy into position where it is readily visible by the operator.

In making the initial impression, the operator first determines the length of the lines to be printed and sets an indicatorv2'5 on an em scale 26 to indicatesuch length in ems. This scale is automatically advanced as the line is typed. and asignal, such as .;the ringing of a bell,.is given to the operator as will be hereinafter'more fully described. This signal is arrangedto inform the operator when a point a fixed distance from the end of the desired length of line has been reached. In the machine illustrated, the signal is given four ems before the line limit is reached. This distance is generally sufficient for the impression of five to six letter characters without overrunning the end of the line and therefore gives the operator opportunity to determine how much more may be typed without over-running the line.

During the first typing or printing of the copy, the operator uses a space bar 23 of the keyboard IE to cause the paper carriage to be advanced for word spacing. Each time this space bar is actuated it causes the carriage to be advanced a predetermined distance, which, in the construction illustrated, is four units. Each time a character key 28 is actuated, the carriage H is advanced a nearly as possible and then reads the scale l5. At this time the indicator I8 is opposite indicla on the scale It which will indicate which space key or keys 24, if used instead of the space bar 23, in retyping for word spacing, will cause the type line to be justified or extended to a length equal to the length of line desired for the finished copy. This deslgnationis then typed at the end of the line.

Following the typing of the justification indicia at the end of a typed line the operator depresses a release key 21. The depression of this key causes the paper carriage II to be returned to its right hand or starting position; advances the work sheet on the carriage l I to position it to receive the next line to be printed, causes the em scale 26 to return to its zero or starting position, and causes the justifying scale It and indicator |8 to return to their starting positions. Thus the machine is ready for the typing of the next line.

After all lines of a page have been typed or printed, the initial copy is removed from the carriage II and placed in the copyholder l9, and the sheet is then retyped. During this retyping the words are spacedby the keys 24 designated by the indicia at the end of the respective lines. The retyped page is thus justified and simulates a letter press impression.

The work sheet or paper carriage II and the platen l2 are best illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6,

. 8 and 9. As there illustrated, the paper carriage comprises a pair of end plates 30 and 3|, spaced apart by cross frame members, such as rods 32 and bars 385 and 34, all of which are secured at their ends to the end plates. The frame member or bar 34 is positioned at the front of the carriage and is provided with a longitudinally extending, forwardly facing groove in which a plastic bar, which comprises the platen I2, is fixedly seated.

Mounted above the platen H are a pair of coacting work sheet guide rollers 35, while a similar set of rollers 38 are mounted below the platen. A work sheet is passed between and gripped by the pairs of rollers 35 and 38 and held tightly against the platen thereby. Suitable plate-like guide members 31 are provided to guide the work sheet and prevent undesired contact between it and various parts of the mechanism.

As indicated in the drawings, the work sheet may be fed upwardly for line spacing by rotating one of the rollers 35 which is provided with a knob 38 (Fig. 1).

The work sheet may be advanced by a ratchet mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 6 and 8. This ratchet mechanism is similar to that used on typewriters and comprises a ratchet wheel 40 secured to a shaft 4| journaled in the carriage end plate 3|. This ratchet wheel is advanced by a spring pressed pawl 42 (Fig. 8) pivotally mounted on a pawl carrier 43 which in turn is pivotally mounted on the shaft 4|.

The stroke of the pawl carrier may be limited by a pin 44. A spring 53 is interposed between the pin and the pawl carrier 43 to normally swing the carrier to its idle position shown in Fig. 8.

The effective stroke of the pawl is determined by a cam 45 which engages a pin 46. on the pawl and spaces the pawl from the ratchet wheel 40 so long as the pin rides on the cam. Thus the swinging of the carrier through a complete stroke may advance the ratchet one, two, three or four teeth as desired. The cam 45 is manually settable and is normally retained in its set position by a spring pressed plunger 4'! (Fig. 6) which enis journaled in such plates.

gages any one of a series of notches formed in the cam face. The shaft 4| carrying the ratchet wheel 40 may be geared to the shaft of one of the rollers 35 by gearing, generally indicated in Fig. 4 at 43.

The work sheet is positioned lengthwise of the carriage by end guides 58 carried by supporting brackets 5| which in turn are mounted on a pair of rods 32 heretofore mentioned. At least the rig-ht hand guide 50 (Fig. l) is adjustable lengthwise of the carriage and may be secured in an adjusted position by a set screw 52 (Fig. 4). The other end guide 50 may be permanently or adjustably positioned as desired, but when once accurately positioned, need not be changed.

The paper carriage II is mounted for movement from right to left (Fig. 1) transversely across the machine. As shown in the drawings, particularly in Figs. 1 to 6, the frame III of the machine is provided with a pair of upstanding side brackets 55 which have their bases rigidly connected to the frame l8 and which are connected adjacent their upper ends by a comparatively rigid reinforcing bar 55. This bar 58 extends between the brackets in substantially the same horizontal plane as the platen l2. Also mounted in substantially the same horizontal plane as the reinforcing bar 56 and the platen l2, are a pair of comparatively heavy rods 51 and 58. As indicated in Figs. 6, 9 and 10, the rod 51 is mounted in the frame standards 55 for rotation about a fixed axis relative thereto. The rod 58 is mounted or secured to guide blocks 59 which are slidably mounted in horizontally extending ways 60 formed in the brackets 55. Thus the rod 58 may be reciprocated toward and from the platen l2 in a substantially horizontal plane.

The paper carriage is mounted on the rods 51 and 58 for movement axially thereof. As indicated in Figs. 9 and 10, the carriage end plates 30 and 3| are slidable axially along the rod 58 which Journaled on, and slidable axially of the rod 51, are a pair of blocks 5| which are mounted in ways 82 formed in respective carriage end members 30 and.3|, to enable the movement of the carriage in a horizontal plane toward and from the platen l2 relative to the shaft 51. Thus the carriage may move or reciprocate horizontally relative to the bar 51 the axis of which is fixed relative to the frame brackets 55. This reciprocation of the carriage is used to effect the printing operation as will hereinafter be described more fully.

The type wheels H are best shown in Figs. 1, 9 and 11. In the present embodiment I have illustrated two type wheels l4, each of which is mounted on a shaft 10 journaled in a frame bracket Each type wheel carries on its periphery two annular sets or bands of type. The type in the top band 12 of each type wheel |4 comprise lower case type, whereas those in the bottom band 13 of each wheel comprise upper case type. The upper wheel |4 may carry, for instance, six point type and the lower wheel eight point type.

The type wheels are drivingly connected to the shaft 10. A collar 16 is clamped and pinned to the shaft 18, as at 11 and I8, and carries a pin or rod 15 which engages openings 14 in the wheels H. The shaft 18 is restrained from axial movement by the collar 16 and a collar which em brace the frame bracket 1|. The type wheels are free for axial movement on both the shaft 10 and the pin 15. Thus either type wheel may be moved into printing position with the upper band of type thereof in the same horizontal plane as the platen I2.

When the machine is in operation the type wheels are continuously rotated, the rotation being stopped for the printing operation under the control of the keyboard I as will be hereinafter more fully described. The type wheels are normally rotated by a motor M (Fig. 30) which may be drivingly connected by a suitable vshaped driving belt, not shown, with a drive pulley 82 best shown in Fig. 2. This pulley is rotatably mounted on a shaft 83 which extends transversely across the frame I0 being journaled in suitable bearings 84. A friction clutch 85 is interposed between the pulley 82 and the shaft 08.

This clutch permits therotation of the shaft to be stopped for the printing operation without stopping the rotationofthedrive pulley 82. As such clutches are well known, no detailed description will be given. Secured to the shaft 83, intermediate its ends, is a gear 86 which meshes with a spiral gear 81 drivingly secured to the type wheel shaft as by a pin 88.

As herebefore mentioned, the type wheels I4 are mounted for axial movement on the shaft 10 to bring the upper case band 13 of type into printing position, that is, in horizontal alignment with the platen I2. This movement of the type wheels is controlled from the keyboard I5, and particularly by a shift key 90, Figs. 1, 2, 6 and '1. As shown, the key 90 is pivotally mounted as at 9| on a plate 92 which is carried by alever 93. This lever is secured to a shaft 94 which is journaled in frame members 95. A spring 96 normally retains the lever in an inactive position, shown in Fig. 7. When the key 90 is depressed by the operator, the lower end 91 of the plate 92 contacts a leaf-type switch 98 energizing an electric circuit which causes the energization of a solenoid I00.

The solenoid I00 is best illustrated in Figs. 6 and 11, and is arranged to actuate a lever IOI pivoted at I02 to a frame bracket or post I03. When the solenoid is energized, the yoked end I04 of the lever coacts with a collar I05 pinned to a vertically extending rod I09 raising the rod vertically. The rod I09 is mounted for axial movement in the frame I0 and the frame bracket 1I.

Axial movement of the rod I 09 is imparted to the type wheels I4 by a carriage I06. This carriage comprises an upper member 63 and a lower member 64 which are normally secured together as a unit by a set screw I01. The carriage I06 is positioned vertically on the shaft I09 by a manually operable latch IIO pivoted as at III to the upper carriage member 63 and arranged to selectively engage vertically spaced grooves H2 or H3 in the rod I09. When the latch is in the lower recess II3, as shown in Fig. 11, the upper type wheel I4 is in printing position and when the latch is in the groove II2 the lower type wheel is in printing position. Rotary movement of the carriage I06 is prevented by a pin II4 carried by the bracket H and having a sliding engagement with the carriage.

The raising of the rod I09 by the solenoid I00 raises the carriage I06 a distance sufficient to bring the upper case band of type 13 into alignment with the platen l2. The carriage is connected to the type wheels I4 by two pairs of rollers. One pair of rollers H5 is carried by arms I I6 of the upper carriage member 63 and engages the upper surface of the top type wheel I4. The other set of rollers I I1 is carried by arms I08 01' the carriage member 64 and engages the bottom surface of the lower type wheel I4. The

the rod I09 with a spring II8. This spring is interposed between the frame I0 and a collar 9 and serves to counterbalance a portion of the weight of the carriage I06 and the type i heels I4. The carriage and type wheels, however, have sufllcient weight to insure their return under the influence of gravity to normal position, shown in Fig. 11. The lower position of the type wheels is limited by a collar I20, which is shown in Fig. 11 as being pinned to the rod I09, while the uppermost position is limited by the collar I05 likewise pinned to the rod I09. These collars are arranged to engage respective faces of the frame bracket 1| heretofore described.

The shift mechanism for moving the type wheels to their upper case positions may be latched to retain the wheels in such position.

To accomplish this the operator depresses a key I22 (Fig. 7) instead of the key 90. This key is mounted on the plate 92 (Fig. '1) and is arranged so that when depressed it will cause the plate to swing in a counterclockwise direction against the action of a spring I25 which is interposed between the lever 93 and the plate 92. Thus when the key I22 is depressed, a cam I26 will engage a locking notch I21 formed in the plate 92 and is retained in such position by the spring 96 until the key is depressed. The depression of the key 90 swings the plate 92 in a clockwise direction, thus moving the notch I21 out of engagement with the cam I26, permitting the spring 96 to return the key levers to their normal position and opening the switch 98 and the circuit to the solenoid I00. The shift to upper case type may also be made by depressing a key I20 (Fig. 3) at the right hand side of the keyboard I5. This key I20 is connected with a lever I2I which is secured to the shaft 94 heretofore described.

The depression of a letter key 28 stops the rotation of the type wheels I4 with the selected type in printing position, while the depression of the space bar 23 or a space key 24 stops the type wheel I4 with a portion thereof either having no characters or having quads in printing position. The mechanism for accomplishing this is best shown in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and 8. As shown, in Fig. 8, each key 28 or 24, as well as the space bar 23, is secured to a respective key lever I35. These levers are pivoted to a stationary shaft I36.

The key levers I35 are normally held in their uppermost position, against a stop bar I31 carried by the frame members or posts heretofore mentioned, by individual springs I38. Each key lever I35 carries a pin I40 which is normally in latching engagement with a notch I4I formed in the end of respective levers I42. The levers I42 are pivoted to a stationary rod I43 extending across the frame I0, and are normally retained in the position shown in Fig. 8 by individual springs I44 which are interposed between the respective levers I42 and a frame bar I45.

When the operator depresses a key 28, 24, or the bar 23, the respective key lever I35 is rocked 70 clockwise against the action of its spring I38 to a 16 the end of such lever to engage a notch I41 in a 

